Air-Fried Apple Fritters with Salted Caramel Sauce

In a small bowl stir together 1/4 cup water, yeast, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar; let stand until foamy, about 5 minutes. In a medium bowl stir together flour, salt, and remaining 1/4 cup sugar. Add yeast mixture, milk, oil, and egg; stir until a soft dough comes together. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead until smooth, 1 to 2 minutes (dough will be sticky). Pat dough into an 8x8-inch square. In a small bowl toss apples with cinnamon. Sprinkle over half of the dough, fold side with no apples over apples, and knead 30 seconds or until apples are dispersed. Transfer dough to a lightly greased bowl. Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.

Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Cut into 8 pieces. Using floured hands, pat each portion of dough into a 3- to 4-inch oval. Fritters do not have to be uniformly shaped. Place on lightly floured parchment paper. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and let stand until doubled in volume, about 30 minutes.

Preheat air fryer to 360°F. Place 2 to 3 fritters in a single layer in air fryer basket and cook until golden brown, 5 minutes. Repeat with remaining fritters. Keep cooked fritters warm in a 200°F oven while cooking remaining fritters.

In a small bowl whisk together caramel sauce and enough hot water to make a smooth drizzling consistency. Place hot fritters on a wire rack set over a rimmed baking sheet to catch drips. Drizzle with caramel sauce and sprinkle with sea salt.